Portret van een jonge vrouw met hoed met veren 1850 - 1884

Hans Makart rendered this young woman in delicate strokes of graphite. Her feathered hat immediately draws the eye, a symbol of status and allure in the late 19th century. Feathers, historically emblems of deities and power, have adorned humans across cultures from ancient Egyptian headdresses to indigenous tribal wear. Here, they whisper of a different kind of power: the seductive allure of the modern woman. Think of Botticelli’s Venus emerging from the sea, often depicted with flowing hair, evoking fertility and beauty. Yet, in Makart’s drawing, the woman's downcast gaze introduces a subtle melancholic tension, hinting at an interiority that transcends mere ornamentation. The feathered hat, thus, becomes more than a fashion statement; it is a mask, concealing as much as it reveals. This interplay between visibility and concealment taps into our collective memory of societal expectations. The cycle continues, as feathers transform from sacred symbol to fashion accessory, revealing the complex dance between past and present, image and emotion.